Beach volleyball is a sport that involves playing barefoot with pretty much no protection accessories like knee pads and arm sleeves. That’s why some people might question how safe this sport actually is!
Overall beach volleyball is a pretty safe sport as it is a non-contact one and the number of players involved is only 2 per team. However, each sport is associated with some risks that you need to be aware of, so you could learn how to avoid.
In this article, I breakdown those risks and how you can deal with them properly!
What risks are associated with playing beach volleyball?
Burning feet
If you are going to play sand volleyball in a hot sunny day in summer, than you should definitely expect that sand is usually 10 to 20% hotter than the actual weather …
So, if your feet are not actually used to hot sand than you might encounter the risk of burning your feet.
Of course, after consistent practices your feet should become resilient to that. However, a good tip to deal with hot sand is by using sand socks (Check this Good example Here at Amazon).
These socks can also help protect your feet from sharp objects buried in the sand.
Ankle Sprains
The uneven terrain of the beach is riskier than the indoor court.
The uneven topography renders volleyballers more prone to spraining their ankles. Especially after landing from a jump.
Always familiarise yourself with the playing area. Do a necessary warm-up before commencing a game to avoid spraining your ankle.
Furthermore, lower body workouts will help strengthen the ligaments in the ankles. This will help improve stability and prevent ankle sprains.
Finger Tendon and Ligament Injuries
Finger tendon and ligament injuries are particularly common in beach volleyball. Other elements like weariness and ball impact can cause “jammed” fingers.
This can happen while blocking or setting the volleyball.
Finger injuries are often unavoidable
Yet, there are solutions on the market to strengthen ligaments and tendons. Wearing wraps or tapes around the joints of one’s fingers is the best available option.
Jumpers Knee (Patellar Tendonitis)
Although the sand is a softer surface than a hardwood floor, knee injuries still happen. Jumping and landing cause sometimes cause major injuries. This results in irritation of the patella tendon in the knee.
Always warm-up before games. Try applying knee wraps to reduce the range of motion in your knees. This will help prevent pre-existing problems.
Lower Back Injuries
Landing after repeated jumping causes many lower back injuries. Another reason may be the uneven terrain.
Lower back injuries in the form of sprains and strains do occur in beach volleyball. They may be far less common than in other sports.
Warming up before the game is critical. Diving for the ball is not advised, especially if you have a history of lower back issues.
Rotator Cuff Injury
Volleyballers are more likely to have rotator cuff injuries. Spiking and the continuous overhead motions of the shoulders are the cause for the same. Players get an inflamed tendon due to overuse.
To avoid it, do warm-up and strengthening exercises for your shoulders. If it hurts while playing, consult a physical therapist to avoid more harm.
Use the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) to an inflamed area.
Rest: For the first 24-48 hours, avoid putting any weight on your ankle. To minimise discomfort and swelling, ice your ankle for 15-20 minutes every 2-3 hours. Reusable ankle wraps are a no-mess option. Use two so that one can chill while the other is in use. Wrap your injuries with a compressive bandage to reduce swelling.
Elevation: Raise your ankle above your heart level. Prop yourself up on pillows or a wedge cushion.
After the immediate inflammation and swelling have subsided. You can support your ankle with an ankle brace or kinesiology tape as it heals.
Shoulder Injuries
Spiking and serving in volleyball are high-stress exercises. They can cause injuries to the shoulder’s tendons and ligaments.
Casual players are unlikely to injure their shoulders.
Competitive players should limit the number of serves and spikes. They should pay attention to their body’s pain signals.
Appropriate serving and hitting mechanics can all help you avoid injury.
How to avoid these risks?
It’s a physical as well as mentally demanding sport. Beach volleyball is aerobic. Anyone who has played it for even 10 minutes can attest. Although the sand is comfortable to land on. Running or stepping on it is not easy.
So a few easy precautions might help you avoid getting hurt while having fun in the sun.
Sprains and strains are the most common volleyball injuries. Keep a few simple rules in mind while playing in the sand to avoid them.
Beach volleyball players should wear kneepads (Like these) to protect their knees. I know this is not that common, yet it is still necessary if you have any kind of bad history with them. You can learn about the importance of knee pads for beach volleyball …
Kneepads give the player’s leg stability. This allows them to perform to their full potential.
Experts agree that warming up before a game is vital. Athletes who stretch and warm up have a lower risk of tearing or straining their muscles.
Know how to offer first aid for minor injuries. Such as facial cuts, bruises, minor tendonitis, strains, or sprains.
Prepare for emergencies and have a strategy in place to contact medical help. For injuries like concussions, dislocations, elbow contusions, wrist or finger sprains, and fractures.
Always inspect the ground for sharp items and glass before playing.
Using sunglasses protects eyes and prevents blisters and sores. Making clothes of breathable materials will avoid irritation. This will help wick the moisture away from the skin.
When playing on the beach, players should be cautious. The sand might mask risks such as shattered glass.
Players should also be aware of the weather. Try to avoid playing on the beach during severe weather such as strong winds, rain, or high heat.
Players colliding with each other are the most common cause of volleyball-related injury. To prevent colliding with the equipment players should jump straight up and down. Rather than towards the net when blocking and spiking the ball.
The best approach to avoid sunburn and other sun damage is to use sunscreen and lip balm. It is critical to stay hydrated. While participating in demanding activities in the heat by drinking plenty of water.
Which is safer, beach or indoor volleyball?
Beach volleyball is without a doubt the most popular summer beach sport on the planet. playing volleyball is by far the most entertaining and interesting activity. It is a game for all, be it youngsters or professional athletes.
An injury can occur when a person participates in any sporting activity. The intended information offered in these safety guidelines is to educate athletes. Knowing Correct volleyball techniques and the inherent dangers of the sport is important. Broken bones, muscle and soft tissue injuries, and back injuries are all possibilities. They could result in paralysis.
Competitors should be aware that fundamentals, coaching, and adequate safety equipment are critical.
It is a low-risk activity. The National Athletic Trainers Association recorded 82 per cent of injuries as minor.
While the amount of time missed due to injury is smaller than in most other team sports. Beach volleyball is still a serious sport.
The majority of beach volleyball accidents occur as a result of a lack of awareness of the risks.
The rate of acute time-loss injuries in beach volleyball is lower than in most other team sports. Overuse injuries to the lower back, knees, and shoulder are a major source of disability. This is a performance impairment for professional beach volleyball players.
You can also learn about the popularity of beach volleyball …
Final Thoughts …
This article might be a little bit discouraging for some people who want to get into the sport. In fact, my goal is definitely not to discourage you, instead I want to help grow your awareness about the worst case scenarios so you can be fully prepared …
Indeed, as far as you manage to stay safe while playing, then you will definitely enjoy the game and even grow as a player.
Lastly, I highly invite you to have a look at these tips to become a professional beach volleyball player …